Entomophthoralean fungi associated with aphid s in woody plants in the arboretum mlyňany SAS

Abstract

A survey of entomophthoralean fungi infecting aphids in collections of woody plants in the Arboretum Mlyňany SAS was conducted during vegetation periods 2007 and 2008. Altogether, eight fungal species were identified in the aphid colonies. Of the fungi recorded, Pandora neoaphidis (Remaudière et Hennebert) Humber, Entomophthora planchoniana Comu and Neozygites fresenii (Nowakowski) Remaudière et Keller were predominating ones. Zoophthora radicans (Brefeld) Batko, Zoophthora aphidis (Hoffman in Fresenius) Remaudière et Hennebert, Neozygites cinarae Keller, Conidiobolus coronatus (Costantin) Batko and Conidiobolus obscuras (Hall et Dunn) Remaudière et Keller were less important parasitic fungi. The number of species of fungi recorded reflects a great diversity in aphid-pathogenic flora in the arboretum. The entomophthoralean fungi were recorded from 40 aphid species belonging to 4 families (Aphididae, Drepanosiphidae, Lachnidae and Anoeciidae). Findings of entomophthoralean infection in Myzocallis castanicola Baker, Myzocallis carpim (Koch), Myzocallis walshii Monell and Myzus ligustri Mosley colonies are considered first reports from these aphid species at all. In Slovakia, C. coronatus is recorded from natural aphid colonies for the first time.